Basra: battle for oil

Basra: battle for oil

Kamran Jebreili / Associated Press

An oil tanker, Episkopi, is docked at the Basra oil terminal, in Persian Gulf waters. The city is the key hub for Iraqi oil exports and is plagued by oil smuggling. Parties had been jostling for position ahead of scheduled provincial elections in the fall, and some groups alleged that Maliki's crackdown was intended to strengthen the position of his allies, the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council.

An oil tanker, Episkopi, is docked at the Basra oil terminal, in Persian Gulf waters. The city is the key hub for Iraqi oil exports and is plagued by oil smuggling. Parties had been jostling for position ahead of scheduled provincial elections in the fall, and some groups alleged that Maliki's crackdown was intended to strengthen the position of his allies, the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council. (Kamran Jebreili / Associated Press)

An oil tanker, Episkopi, is docked at the Basra oil terminal, in Persian Gulf waters. The city is the key hub for Iraqi oil exports and is plagued by oil smuggling. Parties had been jostling for position ahead of scheduled provincial elections in the fall, and some groups alleged that Maliki's crackdown was intended to strengthen the position of his allies, the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council.Kamran Jebreili / Associated Press